CEBU Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and three local Church officials were directed to submit their counter-affidavits on the libel charges filed by a separated monk last Friday.

Asst. Provincial Prosecutor Gerome Abarca, one of two prosecutors handling the case, said subpoenas were issued to the archbishop and three priests amid the preliminary investigation into the case filed by former monk Venancio Cabillon.

This came amid reports that two monks went to the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office to fill sworn affidavits in relation to the case.

But Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba declined to give details on their involvement.

The respondents have 10 days from receipt of the order to submit a written answer to the allegations thrown at them.

Prosecutors Abarca and Ma. Luisa Ong were assigned on Vidal's case after several of them declined due to ?workload? or ?personal reasons.?

Should the respondents fail to submit their counter-affidavits on the deadline, the prosecutors in charge have to resolve the case based on the evidence submitted to their office.

CEBU DAILY NEWS tried but failed to contact Joel Ouano, the Archdiocese's legal counsel, on the case.

Cabillon, a former member of the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration (MMEA), filed a libel suit against Cardinal Vidal and three local church officials for allegedly maligning him in a notice published at the Bag-ong Lungsoranon, the Cebu Archdiocese's official publication.

Also named as respondents were Abelio Mangila also known as Frater Martin Mary, MMEA, superior of the Monastery of the Marian Shrine in Upper Lindogon, Sibonga; Rev. Fr. Marnell Mejia, editor-in-chief of Bag-ong Lungsoranon; and Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, director and business manager of Bag-ong Lungsoranon.

He requested for compensatory and consequential damages for the ?shame and injustice? he suffered because of the ?malicious? notice of disconnection published on the church's newsletter on August 9.

Cabillon demanded an apology from the respondents who allegedly issued a notice published in the Bag-ong Lungsoranon, the official newsletter of the archdiocese, on Aug. 9.

The public notice said Cabillon, known as Frater Paul Mary, was no longer connected to the MMEA, and was not authorized to solicit funds in the name of the group.

It also said he had broken vows of chastity and obedience, and was a ?trafficker? of members of the group, where he was a formator.